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〃And you would suggest searching the trains？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃When？〃
〃Now。 No； I don't mean at this very minute。 I should suggest that
tomorrow morning； say at daybreak； you send men over this entire train。
Don't let them miss a single corner where a man might hide。〃
〃Yes； but this isn't the only train in the show。〃
〃I know。 At the first stop； or you might do it here before we start；
wire ahead to your other train managers to do the same thing。 Tell them
who it is you suspect。 You'll be able to catch the squadron before they
get in； though I do not believe our man will be found anywhere on that
train。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃The squadron went out before the guy ropes were cut。〃
〃Great head！ Great head； Phil Forrest；〃 glowed the manager。 〃You're
a bigger man than I am any day in the week。 Then； according to your
reasoning； the fellow ought either to be on this section or the one just
ahead of it？〃
〃Yes。 But don't laugh at me if I don't happen to be right。 It's just an
idea I have gotten into my head。〃
〃I most certainly shall not laugh； my boy。 I am almost convinced that
you are right。 At least； the plan is well worth carrying out。 I'll give the
orders to the train managers before we start。〃
〃I would suggest that you tell them not to give the orders to the men
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until ready to begin the search in the morning。〃
〃Good！ Fine！〃 glowed the showman。
〃I'm going to turn out and help search this section myself；〃 said Phil。
〃You know I have some interest in it； seeing that it is my plan；〃 he smiled。
〃Better keep out of it；〃 advised Mr。 Sparling。 〃You might fall off
from the cars。 You are not used to walking over the tops of them。〃
〃Oh； yes I am。 I have done it a number of times this season just to
help me to steady my nerves。 I can walk a swaying box car in a gale of
wind and not get dizzy。〃
Mr。 Sparling held up his hands protestingly。
〃Don't tell me any more。 I believe you。 If you told me you could
run the engine I'd believe you。 If there be anything you don't know how
to do； or at least know something about； I should be glad to know what
that something is。〃
〃May I send your messages？〃 asked the lad。 〃If you will write them
now I'll take them over to the station。 It must be nearly starting time。〃
〃Yes； it is。 No； I'll call one of the men。〃
Mr。 Sparling threw up his desk and rapidly scribbled his directions to
the train managers ahead。 After that he sent forward for the manager of
their particular section； to whom he confided Phil Forrest's plan； the lad
taking part in the discussion that followed。 The train manager laughed at
the idea that anyone could steal a ride on his train persistently without
being detected。
Mr。 Sparling very emphatically told the manager that what he thought
about it played no part in the matter at all。 He was expected to make a
thorough search of the train。〃
〃His search won't amount to anything〃 thought Phil shrewdly。 〃I'll do
the searching for this section and I'll find the fellow if he is on board。 I
hope I shall。 I owe Red Larry something； and I'm anxious to pay the
debt。〃
The train soon started； Phil bidding his employer good night； went
forward to No。 1 which was the forward sleeper on the train； next to the
box and flat cars。 He peered into Teddy Tucker's berth； finding that lad
sound asleep； after which he tumbled into his own bed。
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But Phil was restless。 He was so afraid that he would oversleep that
he slept very little during the night。
At the first streak of dawn he tumbled quietly from his berth； and；
putting on his clothes； stepped out to the front platform； where he took a
long breath of the fresh morning air。
The train was climbing a long grade in the Sierra Nevadas and the car
couplings were groaning under the weight put upon them。
Phil climbed to the top of the big stock car just ahead of him； and sat
down on the brake wheel。
Far ahead he saw several men going over the cars。
〃They have not only begun the search but they are almost through；〃
muttered Phil。 〃As I thought； they are not half doing it。 I guess I'll take
a hand。〃
Phil stood up； caught his balance and began walking steadily over the
top of the swaying car。 At the other end of the car he opened the trap
door which was used to push hay through for the animals； examining its
interior carefully。 There was no sign of a stranger inside； nor did he
expect to find any there。
〃He'll be in a place less likely to be looked into；〃 muttered the lad
starting on again and jumping down to a flat car just ahead。
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CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
〃There's somebody climbing over the train；〃 called one of the
searchers to the train manager。
All hands turned； gazing off toward Phil。 He swung his hands toward
them； whereat they recognized the lad and went on about their work。
〃Wonder they saw even me！〃 grumbled the lad； moving slowly along。
It seemed almost impossible that one could hide on a train like that。 Here
and there men were sleeping under the wagons； and Phil made it his
business to get a look into the face of each of them。 Not a man did he
find who bore the slightest resemblance to Red Larry or Bad Eye。
〃It doesn't look very promising； I must say；〃 he muttered； jumping
lightly from one flat car to another。
Phil had searched faithfully until finally he reached a 〃flat〃 just behind
that on which stood the great gilded band wagon。 Now； under its covering
of heavy canvas； none of its gaudy trimmings were to be seen。
Phil sat down on the low projection at the side of the flat car； eyeing
the band wagon suspiciously。
Somehow he could not rid himself of the impression that that wagon
wou